The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is seeking public comments on an information collection involving requests for advisory opinions. Exporters can submit an advisory opinion request to DDTC to help determine whether the agency may grant or deny a particular export, to receive guidance on regulatory requirements and more. Comments are due July 24.
Singapore-based Foxconn Ventures, an affiliate of Taiwan-based technology firm Hon Hai Technology Group, recently received U.S. clearance to acquire American electric vehicle equipment manufacturer Lordstown Motors, Squire Patton said in a May 8 post. The parties received clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. April 25, the law firm said. The purchase was valued at about $50 million.
Members of Congress need to be mindful of what their proposals to regulate outbound investment might mean for U.S. businesses, one of the experts on a Washington International Trade Association webinar cautioned.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls updated its online application with a new option for industry to make DDTC speaker requests, the agency announced this week. The Defense Export Controls and Compliance System now includes a “user-friendly form” for industry and others to request DDTC event speakers for “outreach engagements,” including conferences, public meetings, trade shows and “widely-attended workshops and events,” the agency said. “If your organization would benefit from having a DDTC subject matter expert speak at your next outreach event, be sure to use this form for all future requests.” Requesters must be enrolled in DECCS to access the forms.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended by 30 days its public comment period for an information collection relating to technology letters of explanation (see 2303070026). The letters provide the agency with a description of a technology in a license application, allowing BIS technical staff to "evaluate the impact of licensing the export on United States national security and foreign policy.”
A bill recently passed by a Texas Senate committee could allow the Texas attorney general to submit information about non-notified investment transactions to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., Squire Patton said in a May 12 client alert. SB-2142, passed unanimously by the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs April 25, is the “first of its kind creating a monitoring mechanism at the state level” for foreign direct investments, the firm said.
The State Department approved a potential military sale to Germany worth about $8.5 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said May 11. The sale includes “CH-47F Chinook Helicopters” and related equipment, and the principal contractor will be Boeing Helicopter.
The U.S. should deploy “targeted and responsible” trade measures to restrict Chinese access to sensitive technologies, not ones that cut off a broad range of transactions between American and Chinese firms, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark said during an industry conference this week.
The Federal Maritime Commission on May 11 alerted industry that several of its applications are experiencing issues with email notifications. The affected applications are Form 1, Form 18, OTI Renewals, Form 65 Renewals, eMonitoring, eAgreements and BCL Fileroom, it said. The FMC Office of Information Technology is troubleshooting.
The Bureau of Industry and Security extended for another 30 days its public comment period for an information collection involving voluntary self-disclosures of anti-boycott violations (see 2303060004). The new deadline is June 12.